Private developers in India have recently done very well, but has the government kept pace? The Narmada Dam dispute highlights the enduring shortcomings in the government's ability to facilitate fair and sustainable development.
"Many development experts think the government can do better. Even in India's road-widening efforts or its attempts to acquire land to build airports or develop stunted cities, the state 'expropriates the land for paltry compensation,' says Nasser Munjee, an infrastructure expert..."
The Narmada Dam "issue has become a classic one of haves vs. have-nots: On one side are the farmers who need the dam to irrigate their fields, and on the other are those who have lost access to their land because of it." To aviod making unpopular decisions "...government left it to the Supreme Court to direct the state to speed up its program for compensating and relocating the area's inhabitants."
Still "...the federal, state and local governments have been lax in implementing either their promises, the law or the Supreme Court directives. In short, it's been business as usual in the world's 10th largest economy."
FULL STORY: Dam Debate Dents India's Infrastructure
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Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
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HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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